We recently moved away from Chicago and in spite of it being January, I'm feeling nostalgic. I've lived in the Uptown, Andersonville and Edgewater neighborhoods, so this list has a definite north side bent, but here is what I miss most about Chicago:

Running along Lake Michigan The courtyard at Fourth Presbyterian Church across the street from the Hancock buildingChai milkshakes at Kopi Cafe in Andersonville How excited adults get about the Holiday TrainArtopolis Bakery and Cafe in GreektownChinatown: Lao Sichuan, hot soy milk, Pui Tak, Pho The best view in the city being from the women's bathroom on the second-to-last-floor of the Hancock buildingMuseums of all kindsMyopic used book store in Wicker ParkBeing able to walk anywhere Taking the water taxiEavesdropping on actors practicing their lines in coffee shopsThe way residents develop solidarity through misery in winter Neighborhoods: Andersonville, Lincoln Square, Wicker Park Being able to check out museum passes for a week from the public libraries Indie Thai on Broadway Parks throughout the city"Vintage" Chicago apartments with creaky wood floorsA 5 minute wait for an UberMargie's ice cream=best chocolate sauce in the cityArgyle StreetDevon Street AldiChicago Park District=super cheap classes for kidsTurning the river green on St. Patrick's DayThe Chicago Art Institute miniature roomsFree city waterThe way Chicagoans enjoy their summers Maggianos, Riggatoni D Lickety Split Custard, the GrasshopperLincoln Park Zoo=FREERaces: the Hot Chocolate, the Shamrock Shuffle, the Chicago Half Marathon and Full Marathon High tea at the Drake

The theater sceneThe Water Tower=one of just a few buildings left standing after the Chicago fire in 1871M. HenryHow residents avoid Navy Pier First Free Church in AndersonvilleDiversityGrub HubTaking the architectural cruise Little Free Libraries Summer sports leagues Maggie Daley Park downtown Cinnamon rolls at Ann SatherEnd of the road at Montrose Harbor=best view of the lake and cityCheap produce stores like Edgewater Produce Street musicians at the Jackson stop on the redline Cafe Babareeba: Bacon-wrapped dates and Sangria Local coffee shops that do pour-overs and have amazing lattes: Metropolis, Bow Truss, Intelligentsia, Asado, La Colombe, IpsentoThe "Ipsento Latte" at Ipsento Coffee: coconut milk, honey, espresso and cayenne pepperFurnishing your entire apartment through CraigslistBuying spicy mangos or pork rinds at Montrose beachBackroom Shakespeare Bundling up like a ninja to run in the winter "A city of small towns"Good drinking water straight from the tap Downtown stores: H & M and Crate & Barrel Lakeshore Drive="The Drive" or "LSD" Authentic ethnic food of all kindsGetting into Blue Man Group free by volunteering to usher Christmas time downtown: lights, Christkindlmarket, Macy's window display, Frango mints from Macy'sGarret's popcorn shop, the "Chicago mix"=chesse + caramel popcornTaking the blue line to O'hare or the orange line to MidwayMurals under bridges by the lake Finally throwing your Christmas tree out your third floor window apartment in JanuarySummers: Summer Dance, free outdoor concerts, movies in the park, neighborhood festivalsStreet musicians

How everyone has their "tamale man" who sells them out of a cooler on the corner of the streetNorth side beaches--Foster, Hollywood and Osterman--cleaner and less crowded The puppet bike Hot Tix=half prince tickets Ice skating downtownFree covered parking garages attached to grocery storesBrilliant summer gardensLiberals People-watching on Belmont after midnight Waving at other runners in the winterPublic transportation to anywhere you need to goThe color of Lake Michigan on a sunny day as you drive the S-curve on Lakeshore Drive Gluhwein (hot spiced, mulled wine) in Andersonville in winterHeaters at bus stop sheltersThe way spring's daffodils and tulips take your breath awayChicago-style pizza and hot dogsWrigley Field & the Cubs (even if you hate baseball)Cheap parking app: Spot HeroThe Waterfront Cafe in Edgewater Running into people you know What do you love about Chicago?